In April 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States found that the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires unanimous verdicts to convict defendants of serious offenses (felonies). In doing so, the court held that the jury trial right requires a unanimous verdict in state courts. The court found that “Louisiana’s and Oregon’s unconventional schemes” of allowing for non-unanimous jury verdicts for felony cases are unconstitutional. As a result of the ruling, Louisiana defendants charged with a felony must be convicted by a unanimous jury, or 12-0.
To read the text of the case, click here: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/18-5924_n6io.pdf
